Wadding for vintage speakers

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I am renovating a 1964 Bang & Olufsen radiogram and want to replace the original slabs of wadding within the speaker chambers. They have deteriorated badly and I suspect these may contain asbestos. I wonder if any member could recommend a suitable modern wadding please? Although the original wadding was cut into rectangular slabs, would the recommendation be to replicate this with new wadding or just fill each chamber entirely?

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
timornellas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 27 April 2021 Location: Hove Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote timornellas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Wadding for vintage speakers Posted: 27 April 2021 at 7:23am
	I am renovating a 1964 Bang & Olufsen radiogram and want to replace the original slabs of wadding within the speaker chambers. They have deteriorated badly and I suspect these may contain asbestos. I wonder if any member could recommend a suitable modern wadding please? Although the original wadding was cut into rectangular slabs, would the recommendation be to replicate this with new wadding or just fill each chamber entirely?

jbl_man Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 12 January 2005 Location: London. Status: Offline Points: 11155	Post Options Post Reply Quote jbl_man Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 8:55am
	This would do the job. http://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/mdm-2-12-0940/acoustic-wadding-white/dp/LS00385
	Be seeing you.

JonB67 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 22 April 2016 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1376	Post Options Post Reply Quote JonB67 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 11:10am
	If you think its asbestos, be very very careful. You could ask b&o, they might know. You could also get it sampled (only £25 where i am) At least you know how to treat it then. Proper sealing masks, paper suit, gloves, goggles and somewhere safe to do it bare minimum. Dont use your household vac to clean up. If you dont know what you're doing, get a professional to help. Loose fibre asbestos is the most dangerous of the lot. Treat it with caution. Edited by JonB67 - 27 April 2021 at 11:11am

jbl_man Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 12 January 2005 Location: London. Status: Offline Points: 11155	Post Options Post Reply Quote jbl_man Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 1:20pm
	^ As above.....also, you can't just put it in the dustbin ,it needs to go to a specialist disposal contractor. My thoughts are is probably more likely to be a form of glass fibre wadding, but as Jon says, get it checked before you disturb it.
	Be seeing you.

incasound Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 14 March 2019 Location: EDB Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote incasound Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 3:09pm
	This^. My ex's grandfather was recently diagnosed with asbestosis after being contacted by an old work colleague telling him to go and get checked after falling ill. Turns out it was traced back to a single removal job that they done together in the 1970s. As other have mentioned use appropriate PPE and get it lab tested if in doubt.

kedwardsleisure Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 4947	Post Options Post Reply Quote kedwardsleisure Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 3:46pm
	I've never seen asbestos in a speaker before. Is it a known problem with B&O?
	Kevin North Staffordshire

timornellas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 27 April 2021 Location: Hove Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote timornellas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 3:51pm
	Thank you all. I will be very careful as recommended.

timornellas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 27 April 2021 Location: Hove Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote timornellas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2021 at 8:11pm
	Good news from a Bang & Olufsen expert is that the speaker wadding used by B&O in the 1960s was Rockwool insulation so no asbestos

Noyzmunky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 10 June 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1260	Post Options Post Reply Quote Noyzmunky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 April 2021 at 9:34am
	cut to the same size and fix in the same manner.
	my name is Inigo Montoya...you killed my father, prepare to die!.

madboffin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 03 July 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Status: Offline Points: 1538	Post Options Post Reply Quote madboffin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 April 2021 at 5:46pm
	Note that "Rockwool" comes in various different densities, from around 30 kg/m3 to 200 kg/m3, (in other words, from something like lightweight fibreglass insulation, to quite hard slabs). So try and get a reasonable match to whatever was there to start with. Best to wear gloves, overalls and a mask when installing it too, it's even more itchy than fibreglass in the loft... Edited by madboffin - 29 April 2021 at 5:49pm

timornellas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 27 April 2021 Location: Hove Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote timornellas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 April 2021 at 7:30pm
	Many thanks to all the members who have offered me their advice.